Koba

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About

Koba house is situated on the banks of river Sabarmati, north of Ahmedabad, and part of koba village. The site is part of an undulating landscape of silt mounds that stretch along either sides of the Sabarmati river.

Program

The house was designed for a retired couple and their children who visit on weekends. The family entertains regularly and enthusiastically and the program responds by way of providing a variety of usages of spaces. Fundamental to the fit with this lifestyle, site and climatic context, thus, is the relationship between inside and outside.

Architectural response

The natural gradient towards the river has a balanced cut and fill to tuck the built form and to provide a visual barrier from the main approach.

The built form, comprises, a retaining wall that holds the excavated earth, forming a berm. The dining and bedroom spaces flank the sides of the central court, built in massive masonry walls.

The long sweeping verandah held between splayed exposed concrete end walls and supported by a light metal structure provides the shade and contrast.

The design uses a mix of defense (against the afternoon heat) and advance (towards the view) to achieve the fit. The house is aligned north east-south west with few walls exposed to the morning and afternoon sun. It backs up against (and cuts slightly into) an existing mound on site, which shields its north-western side from the sun. In addition, the service spaces- toilets, utilities, staircase etc- help insulate the living areas further.

An open courtyard is formed along a connecting passage between the kitchen-dining block and that housing the master bedroom.